Collapsible grapnel anchor

ABSTRACT

A longitudinally extended shaft is adapted to have one end thereof operatively secured to a watercraft, a plurality of flukes have one end of each thereof pivotally secured to the other end of the shaft with a tubular sleeve mounted on the shaft for sliding movements between the ends of the shaft, a link is pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of each of the flukes and to the end of the tubular sleeve adjacent the other end of the shaft and releasable latch means, including a control lanyard is adapted to position the flukes in a selected one of a storage, grappling, and release position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Ewald L. Zitzow Vergas, Minn. 56587 [21] Appl. No. 850,877 [22] Filed Aug. 18, 1969 {45] Patented July 20, 1971 [54] COLLAPSIBLE GRAPNEL ANCHOR 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 114/208 [51] Int. Cl B63b 21/44 [50] Field olsearch 114/208, 208 A, 206, 207, 206.1, 209

(56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,021,812 2/1962 Swails 114/208 3,123,037 3/1964 Jensen Primary ExaminerMilton Buchler Assistant Examiner--F. K. Yee Attorney-Merchant & Could ABSTRACT: A longitudinally extended shaft is adapted to have one end thereof operatively secured to a watercraft, a plurality of flukes have one end of each thereof pivotally secured to the other end of the shaft with a tubular sleeve mounted on the shaft for sliding movements between the ends of the shaft, a link is pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of each of the flukes and to the end of the tubular sleeve adjacent the other end of the shaft and releasable latch means, including a control lanyard is adapted to position the flukes in a selected one of a storage, grappling, and release position.

I PATENTEDJULZQIH?! 3,593,882

SHEET 1 UF 2 INVENTOR. I EWALD Lz/Tzaw ATTDRNEYS CQLLAPSIBLE GRAPNEL ANCHOR ,VBACKGROUNDQOFTHE INVENTION 1 I.Field of the Invention The present invention is broadly concerned with anchors for watercraft and the like, and more specifically with grapneltype anchors in which the flukes thereof are movable to a selected one of a plurality of positions.

2. Description of the Prior Art t In an attempt to provide suitable anchoring devices for watercraft, many types of anchors have been developed to alleviate the problems of weed collection, dragging of the anchor, inability to release the anchor from foreign objects, and storage thereof in the watercraft. Anchors commonly used with watercraft, such as small fishing boats and the like, normally take the shape of a central shaft having a dish-shaped bottom portion. Such anchors are only partially successful in that it is "not too difficult to drag same along the bottom of the body of water on which the watercraft is located. In addition, such anchors often become lodged between rocks or the like or other foreign objects making same extremely difficult to retrieve from the bottom of the body ofwater.

Grapnel anchors have also been widely used for anchoring such watercraft. Such anchor dragging problems along the b ottom of the body of water are not so prevalent since the flukes thereof generally dig in better or hook onto foreign objects at the bottom more readily than the dishshaped bottom of the above anchor. The grappling or hooking action of the latter type'anchors often, present problems in that the anchor is not always easily dislodged from hooking engagement with f various foreign objects at the bottom. Also, a further problem withsuch anchors has been storage of same within the watercraft. Itwill beappreciated thatthe'flukes thereof are nor mally exposed and may cause damage to the watercraft hull if dropped. or to the operator of the watercraft should he accidentally fall against same.

' SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The anchor'of the present invention is of I the grapnel type and is constructed to overcome the aboveiobjectionable f eaturesof such anchors by constructing same to permit movement of the flukes thereof into a selected one of a storage,

anchoring, and release position. To this end the present anchor includes-a longitudinally extended shaft adapted to .have one end thereof operatively secured .to a watercraft, a

plurality of flukes have one end of each thereof pivotally secured to'the other end of the shaft with a tubular sleeve mounted on the shaft for sliding movements between the ends of the shaft, a link is pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of each of theflukes and to the end of the tubular sleeve adjacent the other end of the shaft, and a releasable latch means including a control lanyard is adapted to position the flukes in a selected one'of a storage anchoring and release position. 4 It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a collapsible anchor of the grapnel type which may be easily released from hooking engagement with a foreign object positinned at the bottom of a body of water.

It is another'object of the present invention to provide a device of the class above described which may be folded or collapsed andmaintained in a storage position.

It is a still further object of the present'invention to provide a device of the class above described which is relatively inexpensive to produce, foolproof in operation, and provides a maximum of holdingpower in its anchoring position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to thedrawings, wherein like characters indicate likeparts throughout the figures:

. FIG. 1 is an elevational view ofthe anchor of the present in' vention in an operative anchoring position;

FIG. 2 is a view in top plan thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the anchor of FIG. 1- showing the flukes thereof in a collapsed storage position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1 showing the flukes thereof in a position to release the anchor fromhooking engagement with foreign objects;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a latching mechanism utilized to maintain the flukes of the anchor in a selected one of the storage, anchoring, and release positions; and FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a grapnel-type anchor, indicated generally by the numeral 10, in an operative anchoring position at the bottom 11 of a body of water. Anchor 10 includes a longitudinally extended, rectan gular cross-sectionally shaped shaft 12 having one end thereof formed into an eye 13 through which is attached an anchor rope, not shown. The anchor rope in turn is attached to a watercraft, such as a fishing boat, also not shown. A plurality of flukes or hooks 14' have one end of each thereof pivotally secured, as at 15, to a side of the shaft 12, at the other end thereof for pivotal movements generally parallel to the plane of their respective sides. A generally cross-sectionally rectangular-shaped sleeve 16 is mounted on the shaft 12 for sliding movements between-the ends of the shaft 12.

For the purpose of causing sliding movements of the tubular sleeve 16, responsive to pivotal movements of the flukes 14, there is provided a plurality of links 17. Links 17 have one end of each thereof pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of each of the flukes 14, as at 18, and the other end thereof pivotally secured, as at 19, to the end ofthe tubular sleeve 16 adjacent the other end of the shaft 12. With this arrangement pivotalmovement of the flukes 14 in a plane parallel to its respective side of the shaft 12 results in movements of the links 17 in planes generally parallel to the plane of movement of their respective flukes l4 and sliding movements of the tubular sleeve 16 longitudinally of the shaft 12.

Releasable latch means, including a control lanyard 22, leading from the latch means to the watercraft, is indicated generally by the numeral 23. Latch means 23 is adapted to position the flukes 14 in a selected one of a storage, anchoring, and release position, illustrated in FIGS. 3, 1 and 4, respectively. To this end, latch means 23 includes mounting means having a pair of laterally spaced cars 24, elongated longitudinally of the tubular sleeve 16, and a connecting plate 25 secured to and. extending between the cars 24, at one end thereof, in spacedrelation to the sleeve 16. Connecting plate 25 and sleeve 16 define aligned apertures 26, 27, respectively, for the sliding reception of opposite ends of a latch pin 28.

A plurality of detents 29, 30, and 31 :are formed in the shaft. 12 on the side thereof adjacent the latch means 23 and sliding movements of the latch pin 28 are directed toward and away from a selected one of the detents 29-31. Stop means in the nature of a diametrically enlarged portion of pin 28, defining a shoulder 32, and further enlarged flange 33 permits only limited movements of the latch pin 28 away from and toward the detents 29-30. A coiled compression spring 35 is telescopically mounted on the latch in 28 between the connecting plate 25 and the flange 33 and biases said latch pin toward engagement with a selected one of the detents 29-3l to point 43 at the juncture thereof. The first portion 41 of trip level 40 is positioned intermediate the sleeve 16 and flange 33 and has an opening 44 formed in the end thereof opposite the fulcrum 43, for the reception of the latch pin 28. The second portion 42 of trip lever 40 extends longitudinally of the sleeve 16 from the fulcrum 43, in a diverging relationship with respect to the sleeve 16, and has the free end thereof operatively connected to the lanyard 22, as at 45. Lanyard guide means 46 is carried by the cars 24 therebetween and in a posi' tion whereby pulling action on the lanyard 22 pivots the trip lever 40 on the fulcrum 43. Such pivot action of lever 40 imparts movement to the latch pin 28 away from the detent 29 31, in which it is received, to permit sliding movements of the sleeve 16 longitudinally with respect to the shaft I2 and movements of the flukes 14 into one of the storage, anchoring and release positions illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.

Referring particularly to FIG. I, it can be seen that grapneltype anchors of the type illustrated may become easily lodged under rocks, weeds, or other foreign materials within a body of water and, as would normally be extremely hard and in some cases impossible to dislodge. This may result in loss of the anchor and undoubtedly a portion of the anchor rope. Upon such occurrences an operator, within the watercraft, has merely to pull on the lanyard 22 whereby to release or disengage the latch pin 28 from detent 30, through the medium of trip lever 40, to allow the flukes 14 to assume the position of FIG. 4 of the drawings. Movement of the flukes to the position of FIG. 4 causes sliding movements of the tubular sleeve 16, with respect to the shaft 12, to a position wherein, upon release of the lanyard 22, latch pin 28 may be received or engaged in detent 31. Movement of the various parts of the anchor to the position of FIG. 4 effectively permits dislodgment of the flukes 14 from hooking engagement with any of the above foreign objects and retrieving of the anchor without undue effort.

Upon retrieving the anchor 10 into the watercraft an operator may again pull the lanyard 22, or merely depress the second portion 42 of trip lever 40 with his thumb, to disengage the latch pin 28 from the detent 31. Thereafter, pivotal movements of the flukes 14 from the position of FIG. 4, through the position of FIG. 1, to the position of FIG. 3 causes the tubular sleeve 16 to move to the position of FIG. 3 wherein the latch pin 28 may be received or engaged in the detent 29. Anchor 10 has now been folded or collapsed to a storage position wherein the flukes 14 are pivoted to and maintained in a position in close proximity to the shaft 12 and sleeve 16. In this position the flukes l4 occupy but a minimum of space and are positioned to minimize the possibility of damage to the watercraft or person in the watercraft should same be dropped or should the operator of the watercraft accidentally fall against same.

It will be appreciated that with the above-described construction an anchor of the grapnel type has been provided which avoids the disadvantages normally associated therewith and satisfies the above objects such as anchoring effectiveness, ability to release from hooking engagement, and storage.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible grapnel anchor for watercraft comprising:

a. a longitudinally extended shaft adapted to have one end thereof operatively secured to the watercraft;

b. a plurality of flukes having one end of each thereof pivotally secured to the other end of said shaft;

c. a tubular sleeve mounted on said shaft for sliding movements between said ends of said shaft;

(1. a link pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of each of said flukes and to the end of said tubular sleeve adjacent said other end of said shaft for allowing each of said flukcs to pivot from a position adjacent said tubular sleeve to a position wherein they extend outwardly generally axially from the other end of said shaft; and

c. releasable latch means having at least three positions and including a control lanyard, said latch means operating to prevent relative axial movement between said sleeve and said shaft in any of said three positions for positioning said flukes in a selected one of a storage, anchoring, and release position.

2. The structure of claim I in which said shaft defines spaced apertures for each of said positions and in which said releasable latch means comprises:

a. mounting means carried by said sleeve;

b. a latch pin mounted on said mounting means for reciprocal movements toward and away from said apertures;

c. spring means biasing said latch pin toward engagement with a selected one of said apertures; and

d. a trip lever having said lanyard attached thereto and adapted to impart movements to said latch pin away from said selected one of said apertures against the bias of said spring means responsive to pulling movements on said lanyard.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said shaft and sleeve have a cross-sectionally generally rectangular shape and in which each of said flukes and link associated therewith is pivotally secured to a side of said shaft and sleeve, respectively, for pivotal movements generally parallel to the plane of said side.

4. The structure of claim 2 in further combination with stop means limiting movement of said latch pin toward and away from said detent.

5. The structure of claim 2 in which said mounting means includes:

a. a pair oflaterally spaced ears secured to said sleeve;

b. a connecting plate secured to and extending between said ears in spaced relation to said sleeve; and

c. said plate having an aperture; and

d. said apertures of said connecting plate and said sleeve being adapted to be aligned for the sliding reception of opposite ends of said latch pin 6. The structure of claim 4 in which said stop means limiting movements of said latch pin toward said sleeve is a flange and in which said spring means is a coiled compression spring interposed between said flange and said connecting plate.

7. The structure of claim Sin which said trip lever includes a first portion and a second portion extending angularly therefrom to define a fulcrum at thejuncture thereof, said first portion defining an opening adapted to receive said latch pin and being positioned intermediate said sleeve and flange, said second portion extending longitudinally of said sleeve in a diverging relationship and operatively connected to said lanyard, and lanyard guide means carried by said mounting means in a position whereby pulling action on said lanyard pivots said trip lever on said fulcrum and imparts movement to said latch pin away from said detent to permit sliding movements ofsaid sleeve longitudinally with respect to said shaft. 

1. A collapsible grapnel anchor for watercraft comprising: a. a longitudinally extended shaft adapted to have one end thereof operatively secured to the watercraft; b. a plurality of flukes having one end of each thereof pivotally secured to the other end of said shaft; c. a tubular sleeve mounted on said shaft for sliding movements between said ends of said shaft; d. a link pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of each of said flukes and to the end of said tubular sleeve adjacent said other end of said shaft for allowing each of said flukes to pivot from a position adjacent said tubular sleeve to a position wherein they extend outwardly generally axially from the other end of said shaft; and e. releasable latch means having at least three positions and including a control lanyard, said latch means operating to prevent relative axial movement between said sleeve and said shaft in any of said three positions for positioning said flukes in a selected one of a storage, anchoring, and release position.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said shaft defines spaced apertures for each of said positions and in which said releasable latch means comprises: a. mounting means carried by said sleeve; b. a latch pin mounted on said mounting means for reciprocal movements toward and away from said apertures; c. spring means biasing said latch pin toward engagement with a selected one of said apertures; and d. a trip lever having said lanyard attached thereto and adapted to impart movements to said latch pin away from said selected one of said apertures against the bias of said spring means responsive to pulling movements on said lanyard.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which said shaft and sleeve have a cross-sectionally generally rectangular shape and in which each of said flukes and link associated therewith is pivotally secured to a side of said shaft and sleeve, respectively, for pivotal movements generally parallel to the plane of said side.
 4. The structure of claim 2 in further combination with stop means limiting movement of said latch pin toward and away from said detent.
 5. The structure of claim 2 in which said mounting means includes: a. a pair of laterally spaced ears secured to said sleeve; b. a connecting plate secured to and extending between said ears in spaced relation to said sleeve; and c. said plate having an aperture; and d. said apertures of said connecting plate and said sleeve being adapted to be aligned for the sliding reception of opposite ends of said latch pin.
 6. The structure of claim 4 in which said stop means limiting movements of said latch pin toward said sleeve is a flange and in which said spring means is a coiled compression spring interposed between said flange and said connecting plate.
 7. The structure of claim 5 in which said trip lever includes a first portion and a second portion extending angularly therefrom to define a fulcrum at the juncture thereof, said first portion defining an opening adapted to receive said latch pin and being positioned intermediate said sleeve and flange, said second portion extending longitudinally of said sleeve in a diverging relationship and operatively connected to said lanyard, and lanyard guide means carried by said mounting means in a position whereby pulling action on said lanyard pivots said trip lever on said fulcrum and imparts movement to said latch pin away from said detent to permit sliding movements of said sleeve longitudinally with respect to said shaft. 